An NHC-catalyzed -carbon amination of chloroaldehydes was developed. Cyclohexadiene-1,2-diimines are used as amination reagents and four-atom synthons. Our reaction affords optically enriched dihydroquinoxalines that are core structures in natural products and synthetic bioactive molecules.

An N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed oxidative LUMO activation of the β-cabons of saturated carboxylic esters is disclosed. This approach allows for efficient asymmetric access to lactams and lactones by directly installing functional groups to the typically inert β-sp carbons of saturated esters. The use of HOBt as an additive was found to significantly improve both yields and enantioselectivities of the reactions.

A carbene-catalyzed enantioselective [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction is developed and quarternary α-amino phosphonates are afforded with encouraging anti-bacterial activities.